Gilas Pilipinas rallies from 21 points down to beat Macau Black Bears

Gilas Pilipinas staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 21-point deficit to defeat the Macau Black Bears 103-98 in a friendly match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Black Bears led 56-35 in the second quarter and went into halftime up 63-46, having made 12 three-pointers on 17 attempts.

Coach Tim Cone attributed the comeback to a halftime defensive adjustment, noting the team's initial surprise at Macau's shooting ability.

Key players Justin Brownlee and Dwight Ramos, along with spark plug CJ Perez and AJ Edu, were instrumental in Gilas's second-half surge.

Justin Brownlee led all scorers with 32 points and a double-double of 15 rebounds, while Dwight Ramos contributed 19 points.

A three-pointer by Scottie Thompson late in the third quarter narrowed the gap to two points, setting the stage for a dramatic fourth-quarter finish.

Cone emphasized that defense will be crucial for the team's success in the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah.